Dream On - Conyers Asks Politely for Special Counsel

Haven't seen this diared yet, so here is a 5:10 EST post from the AP wire in which the once noble and fierce John Conyers is now asking pretty please for a special counsel to investigate the CIA's destruction of torture harsh interrogation tapes.

I've been an admirer of John Conyers hard work and principled stands during the years that the Rethugs controlled the House and relegated Conyers to holding hearing in the basement. God, he was fierce.

Then came Nancy Win-Dems-at-Any-Cost Pelosi and threw Conyers and the Constitution ("just a piece of paper") under the table. And now the once-fierce Conyers has become one of the best letter writers in Congress. His latest epistle destined for the AG's roundfile:

PAMELA HESS
AP News

Jan 15, 2008 17:10 EST

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and 18 other House Democrats on Tuesday asked the attorney general to replace a government prosecutor with an outside lawyer to investigate the CIA's destruction of interrogation videotapes.

The request comes a day before the CIA's top lawyer, John Rizzo, is due to testify to the House Intelligence Committee about the tapes, which the CIA destroyed in November 2005. Recorded in 2002, they showed the harsh interrogation of two al-Qaida suspects.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Jan. 2 appointed a Connecticut federal prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation. Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said in a Tuesday letter to Mukasey that the Justice Department's ability to conduct an independent investigation is compromised because the CIA apparently consulted Justice and White House lawyers about the tapes and their destruction.

"The department has no business conducting the investigation and should instead turn to a special counsel," Conyers wrote. "Nothing less than a special counsel with a full investigative mandate will meet the tests of independence, transparency and completeness."

Without a special counsel there will be no final public report on the investigation, Conyers argued. He said he's also concerned that the investigation will not look at what other materials the CIA may have destroyed, or whether interrogators broke laws against torture.

The order to destroy the tapes was given by Jose Rodriguez, then the CIA's chief spy as head of the National Clandestine Service. Rodriguez had been scheduled to testify before the House committee on Wednesday, but his appearance was delayed because his attorney insists that Rodriguez be granted immunity from prosecution.

Strong words. Lovely stationery. Special delivery. Save the friggin' tree and send an email.

John, we hardly knew ye.

•  I find it so hard to understand what Conyers is

  thinking on this. If you take him at his word now he seems to have decided impeachment is not in the best interest of the country for Conyers would certainly not put party or personal prerogative over national interest. But just a while back he was an avid advocate of impeachment, again if you take him at his word. So why does a member of Congress with his recognition level and at his age fear the wrath of Nancy Pelosi, do you really think she'll take his gavel if he proceeds against Cheney or Bush, I can't see that happening. So John Conyers, you were out there on KOS in the past, where are you now, can u tell us what's up?

  by Arctor on Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 04:47:14 PM PDT

  •  Great questions

    He has been asked in the past, including by protesters sitting in his office. Evidently he can't answer.

    by media whores on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 04:41:27 AM PDT